Minnesota Administrative Rules

5225.1110 BOILER OPERATION STANDARDS; ALL PLANTS.

Subpart 1.

Safe boiler operation.

All boilers, unless specifically exempted by Minnesota Statutes, section 326B.988, must be operated, maintained, and attended by an operating engineer in a prudent and attentive manner to avoid endangering human life and property. At a minimum, all operating boilers must be checked by an operating engineer in compliance with this chapter. Specific minimum attendance requirements for hobby boilers are given in part 5225.1140 and specific minimum attendance requirements for high pressure plants are given in part 5225.1180.

In determining whether a boiler is operated, maintained, and attended in a prudent and attentive manner, the division and the chief engineer or operating engineer shall consider the recommendations of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section VI, for low pressure and Section VII, for high pressure along with the following additional factors:

A.

the size or capacity of the boiler plant;

B.

the condition of boilers and appurtenances;

C.

the frequency of boiler checks and past maintenance history;

D.

the extent of public occupancy of the building containing the boiler plant;

E.

the operating service conditions, including weather;

F.

compliance with other statutes and rules of this division; and

G.

any other factor which would adversely affect the safety of the boiler.

A logbook must be maintained in the boiler room by the chief engineer or an operating engineer designated by the chief engineer. The log shall document when the boiler checks were made, who made the boiler checks, and what specific checks of equipment were made. This log shall be made available to the boiler inspector during inspections and at other times upon request of the boiler inspector.

Subp. 2.

Unsafe boiler plant.

If the chief engineer or operating engineer has found the boiler to be in an unsafe condition, the engineer shall notify the owner or employer and the chief boiler inspector as soon as possible. If the unsafe boiler is not immediately taken out of service, the chief engineer or operating engineer shall ensure that the boiler is continuously monitored by an operating engineer, 24 hours per day, until the division has either sealed the object, verified that the unsafe condition has been corrected, or determined that continuous monitoring is no longer required.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 175.171; 183.001; 183.42; 183.44; 183.45; 183.465; 183.466; 183.54; 326B.958; 326B.964; 326B.96; 326B.966; 326B.982

History:

19 SR 591; 21 SR 1897; L 2007 c 140 art 9 s 27; art 13 s 4

Published Electronically:

February 19, 2009